A Catholic secondary school in Sefton looks set to close after church education bosses said it was not possible to continue with their budget.

Pupils are unlikely to return to St Ambrose Barlow Catholic High School, in Netherton, in September 2016 after its accounts showed a potential £470,000 black hole in the next financial year.

Tim Warren, the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s director of schools and colleges, wrote to Sefton council to ask the authority to begin legal proceedings to close the school.

His letter, seen by the ECHO, said: “Unfortunately, as the funding of schools is now almost wholly based on the number of pupils on roll, governors have been managing with a budget that is half the size of the average secondary school budget at a time when the Government is insisting on the highest attainment in the broadest choice of subjects.

“It is simply not possible for the school to cover these increased expectations within the budget available to them.”

He called the 384-pupil school’s budget “very meagre” and said only 64 children – just 20 of whom are Catholic – were due to start there this September.

Mr Warren also asked the council for help finding places at other schools for St Ambrose pupils.

He fired a parting shot at Sefton council for failing to invest in Catholic schools: “A proactive and positive approach is required from the council if Catholic schools are going to deliver what the south Sefton area’s parents and pupils deserve.

“Catholic schools in Sefton have rejected the Government’s academy model and remained loyal to Sefton local authority but, unlike in Liverpool where our schools have been prioritised by the council for substantial investment, in Sefton our school buildings leave a lot to be desired and require millions of pounds of investment just to remain adequately maintained.”

A Sefton council spokesman said: “Due to education funding being frozen, increasing costs and an ongoing decrease in pupil numbers in the south of the borough, the archdiocese have informed us that despite every effort to reduce costs over the last few years, the school will not be able to set a balanced budget next year.

“As a result the school is simply no longer financially viable to operate.”

Headteacher Steve Hall said the decision to close the school was heartbreaking and said the welfare of pupils would be his top priority.

He said: “This decision has not been made lightly and is heartbreaking news for the school community.

“As ever the welfare of all our pupils, their families and staff will be our main priority during this difficult process.”

Sefton council will now launch a public consultation on the closure plans.